Nation's best wants to visit LSU

Daniel Roane

06/25/2009

Chris Martin is the No. 1 defensive end in the country and he recently decided that he wanted to explore a couple of options before signing with Notre Dame in February. One of those options is a school in the SEC that hits close to home in Baton Rouge.

Five star defensive end Chris Martin is soaking in the summer rays and chomping at the bit to get on the field for his senior campaign.

Martin, a 6-foot-4, 240 pounder, will be suiting up for a new team this fall as the sixth ranked overall prospect in the country has transferred from Bishop O’Dowd in Oakland, Calif. to The Hun School in Princeton, N.J.

Martin, who is widely considered the top “jumbo athlete” in the country by Scout.com because he could play defensive end or linebacker, finished his junior year with 110 tackles, including 20 for loss and four sacks. Those numbers were nearly identical to what he posted during his sophomore year – 108 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.

Notre Dame secured an early commitment from Martin, who gave the Irish his pledge on February 4, which just so happened to be National Signing Day for the 2009 class.

He’s remained firm with his affinity for the Irish, but he now wants to see what his options are before making a final decision on his college destination.

“I’m solid to Notre Dame right now, but I just want to get out there and see what other places have to offer before I make my final decision,” Martin told TigerSportsDigest.com on Wednesday night.

Being a fan of college football, the tradition and pageantry at Notre Dame was a big attraction for Martin. He got to see that firsthand when he made an unofficial trip to South Bend for the Irish Spring Game, but he knows that was only a tease of what’s to come in the fall.

“I know of the difference between football in the North and in the South, and Notre Dame sells out every game with every team as basically a rival,” explained Martin, who will take his official visit to Notre Dame on Oct. 17 when USC travels to South Bend. “So I’m looking for more of a comfortable fit than anything in football aspects.”

Martin hasn’t made it to any school camps this summer and he said that he doesn’t have any plans of hitting the road with summer at its midway point. Ho does, however, have some visits on his agenda for the fall.

Martin has been recruited by DJ McCarthy of the LSU staff and is open to seeing what LSU and other schools have to bring to the table to make sure he is making the right decision for his future.

“I want to see North Carolina and LSU because both staffs have kept in touch,” said Martin. “Coach McCarthy came out to California and wanted me to come down for a visit, so I plan on making it down there for a game this season.

“I’ll see what other schools come into play and decide if I want to take any other visits,” added Martin.

The No. 1 ranked defensive end prospect has a good idea of what he will be looking for if his visits carry forward.

“I’m looking particularly for player support, a good coaching staff, and academics because I wont be playing football forever,” he said.

Martin made it clear in January when TigerSportsDigest.com spoke with him that LSU was clearly a school that he was interested in. He stated that he had “always been a fan of LSU” and he had heard plenty from two of his former teammates about their experience at an LSU camp that only piqued his interest even more.

But he says there is more that LSU has going for it and it has to do with playing on Sunday.

“LSU is known as D-Line University and that makes an impression on you,” said Martin. “You hear guys like Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson get their names called early in the NFL draft and you take notice. SEC football doesn’t get much better than LSU.”

Some may question if Martin is serious about looking around or if this is just a means to get out and take some visits for the fun of it. Those who know him, though, will tell you that he isn’t doing this for the headlines, and he’s made it quite clear that he’s not the type to play games and create drama for the fun of it.

“I will be making my final decision after I have taken my visits and I wont have any pulling of the hat antics or anything,” Martin said. “But it’s going to take an amazing visit to make me switch from Notre Dame.”

In the meantime, Martin will continue working out so that he can make a big splash with his new team. He has taken some time to tune into the College World Series and when asked about it, Martin replied with a laugh, “It’s been exciting, and yes, I have been pulling for the Tigers.”

Martin, who is widely considered the top “jumbo athlete” in the country by Scout.com because he could play defensive end or linebacker, finished his junior year with 110 tackles, including 20 for loss and four sacks. Those numbers were nearly identical to what he posted during his sophomore year – 108 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions.

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Notre Dame secured an early commitment from Martin, who gave the Irish his pledge on February 4, which just so happened to be National Signing Day for the 2009 class.

\r\n

\r\n

He’s remained firm with his affinity for the Irish, but he now wants to see what his options are before making a final decision on his college destination.

\r\n

\r\n

“I’m solid to Notre Dame right now, but I just want to get out there and see what other places have to offer before I make my final decision,” Martin told TigerSportsDigest.com on Wednesday night.

\r\n

\r\n

Being a fan of college football, the tradition and pageantry at Notre Dame was a big attraction for Martin. He got to see that firsthand when he made an unofficial trip to South Bend for the Irish Spring Game, but he knows that was only a tease of what’s to come in the fall.

\r\n

\r\n

“I know of the difference between football in the North and in the South, and Notre Dame sells out every game with every team as basically a rival,” explained Martin, who will take his official visit to Notre Dame on Oct. 17 when USC travels to South Bend. “So I’m looking for more of a comfortable fit than anything in football aspects.”

\r\n

\r\n

Martin hasn’t made it to any school camps this summer and he said that he doesn’t have any plans of hitting the road with summer at its midway point. Ho does, however, have some visits on his agenda for the fall.

\r\n

\r\n

Martin has been recruited by DJ McCarthy of the LSU staff and is open to seeing what LSU and other schools have to bring to the table to make sure he is making the right decision for his future.

\r\n

\r\n

“I want to see North Carolina and LSU because both staffs have kept in touch,” said Martin. “Coach McCarthy came out to California and wanted me to come down for a visit, so I plan on making it down there for a game this season.

\r\n

\r\n

“I’ll see what other schools come into play and decide if I want to take any other visits,” added Martin.

\r\n

\r\n

The No. 1 ranked defensive end prospect has a good idea of what he will be looking for if his visits carry forward.

\r\n

\r\n

“I’m looking particularly for player support, a good coaching staff, and academics because I wont be playing football forever,” he said.

\r\n

\r\n

Martin made it clear in January when TigerSportsDigest.com spoke with him that LSU was clearly a school that he was interested in. He stated that he had “always been a fan of LSU” and he had heard plenty from two of his former teammates about their experience at an LSU camp that only piqued his interest even more.

\r\n

\r\n

But he says there is more that LSU has going for it and it has to do with playing on Sunday.

\r\n

\r\n

“LSU is known as D-Line University and that makes an impression on you,” said Martin. “You hear guys like Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson get their names called early in the NFL draft and you take notice. SEC football doesn’t get much better than LSU.”

\r\n

\r\n

Some may question if Martin is serious about looking around or if this is just a means to get out and take some visits for the fun of it. Those who know him, though, will tell you that he isn’t doing this for the headlines, and he’s made it quite clear that he’s not the type to play games and create drama for the fun of it.

\r\n

\r\n

“I will be making my final decision after I have taken my visits and I wont have any pulling of the hat antics or anything,” Martin said. “But it’s going to take an amazing visit to make me switch from Notre Dame.”

\r\n

\r\n

In the meantime, Martin will continue working out so that he can make a big splash with his new team. He has taken some time to tune into the College World Series and when asked about it, Martin replied with a laugh, “It’s been exciting, and yes, I have been pulling for the Tigers.”